From Dingle to Japan...on a bike!Father and son team begin 10,000 mile cycle from Dingle to Tokyo
A father and son team embarked on the adventure of a lifetime last Saturday morning (Saturday, July 26th) as they set off from Dingle, with the intention of cycling all the way to Tokyo, Japan!
Mark Swain (50) and his son Sam (18) left Commenouel, Dún Chaoin at 9.30pm, cycling through Ventry until they reached Dingle where they did a lap of the town.
From there it was on through Kerry, Cork and Waterford on their way to the Ferry in Rosslare.
After arriving in England they will traverse the country, gaining access to France and Mainland Europe via the Channel Tunnel.
The two bravados will then venture though France, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, China and finally take the ferry which will bring them to the Island of Japan whereupon they will reach their destination in Tokyo.
The fearless twosome estimates that the route will encompass over 10,000 miles and take almost a year. They may have to alter their route accordingly as there are some countries, such as Burma, which do not allow entry.
According to Mark, this trip has been in the pipeline for almost eight years as when his son Sam was ten years old he asked how long would it take to cycle to Japan.
"Year in, year out he would ask me about cycling to Japan when his birthday came around" explained Mark, "I was impressed by his attitude and insistence about completing this tumultuous task. As subsequent birthdays passed, his persistence continued so I decided to do something about it!" 2008 saw San turn 18 and Mark reach the milestone age of 50.
"Both of us are at landmark ages in our lives to we decided that 2008 was the perfect year to do this!" said Mark. "Dingle and West Kerry is the perfect place to start, we are in the furthermost western point in Europe and we endeavour to reach the eastern reaches of Japan" Mark added.
Mark and Sam will also raise funds for the Rising Sun Domestic Violence Project during their travels.
Mark hopes to keep an online journal of his travels, view it at : www.bugbitten.com/father_son_cycle
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